Odds on Eurovision Song Contest 2018: Which country will be best in Balkan?

Performers from seven Balkan countries are competing in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. Performers from Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Croatia and Greece will be taking part in the first semi-final of the Eurovision 2018 song contest in Lisbon, while Montenegro’s, Bulgaria’s and Serbia’s representatives will go on stage at the second semi-final. Although the Eurovision Song Contest is no longer that popular in Western Europe, for many in Eastern Europe and the Balkans it is still a big events.

Divisions between some of these countries may remain vivid, but at the annual pan-European song contest, fans from each country tend to support songs performed by their neighbours in the televote.

Bulgaria is a favorite for the victory since long before the official version was performed by the band Equinox. After the release, according to the betting websites, Bulgaria has great chances to get the much-desired crystal microphone. The song is a pop theme with "dark" sounds, in the style of eighties groups such as Depeche Mode or New Order. Top 3-5 should be easy to achieve for the Balkan country this year.

Eye Cue will perform “Lost And Found” for Macedonia in the second half of semi-final 1. This is a commendable effort from FYRoM after last year’s generic fanwank, “Dance Alone”. “Lost and Found” does span a multitude of musical genres yet seems to succeed in fusing them together to make a genuinely listenable track. Lead singer of Eye Cue, Marija Ivanovska, sounds vocally solid and appears to be a more confident performer than last year’s entrant, Jana Burčeska.

“Oneiro Mou”, the song of Yianna Terzi, is certainly a step forward for Greece. It sees them go back to basics with a pleasing, ethno folk-ballad which should get their diaspora back on board. If Salvador’s victory gave us one thing last year, it’s inspiring more nations to dump the plastic pop and return to authentic, national identity songs. Greece is capable of surprising the audience in Lisbon. Feedback has been muted on Greek fan pages, so ‘doing well’ may involve qualifying and reaching the left-hand-side of the scoreboard.

Eugent Bushpepa won what was a 100% jury decided final in Albania with the song “Mall”. It’s a sumptuous, soaring power-ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on an 80s film soundtrack. It’s also a welcome departure from the failed female ballad format. Eugent’s vocals are impressive and his stubbled pretty-boy look could do well with Eurovision voters. Subject to a 3-minute version of the song, Albania really should be knocking on the door of qualification this year.

Croatia aims a qualifying spot too with the entry “Crazy” performed by Franka. It is for sure a special song, pretty different from all the others that presented Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest before. It is combined with powerful video and we are not surprised that it already drawn much attention from all over the world.

Serbia has some support in semi-2, so it’s not impossible for them to reach the final given the standard of songs selected, or those known in national finals. However, they need around 100-points based on last year’s threshold and they will only have friendly juries on side.